http://news.jacksonemc.com/
en-usSat, 25 May 2019 17:37:22 +0200Thu, 23 May 2019 23:02:32 +0200http://content.presspage.com/clients/150_1937.pnghttp://news.jacksonemc.com/
144A Powerful Way to Access Your Energy Informationhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/a-powerful-way-to-access-your-energy-information/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/a-powerful-way-to-access-your-energy-information/At Jackson EMC, we’ve been connecting members with the services and information they need for years. Now, with the new MyJacksonEMC website and mobile application, members can easily discover more about their energy use and manage their account – all at their fingertips.

By downloading the MyJacksonEMC app or visiting the new website, you can start a journey to manage your account. It’s a powerful way to access information about your energy use, report outages and manage your bill payments.

Start your journeyby creating a MyJacksonEMC account – either at MyJacksonEMC.com or after downloading the app from the App Store or Google Play. Be sure to have your account number handy. Need help? We’ve got step-by-step instructions at MyJacksonEMC.com.

When it comes time to pay your bill, MyJacksonEMC makes it easier. On the website or app, click one of the “Pay My Bill” or “Pay Now” options. Follow the instructions to pay with funds from your bank account, a credit card or a debit card. You can also enroll in our Auto Pay program to pay your monthly bill through an automated draft from a bank account or credit card.

Set up your preferences for your new MyJacksonEMC account. Interested in paperless billing? You can enroll in paperless billing under the “My Profile” section of the MyJacksonEMC site or “Settings” on the app. For account notifications, you can enroll more than one email address and phone number.

View your energy use use with MyJacksonEMC. Log in and click one of the “Energy Use” or “My Usage” options. You can view your energy use by billing period, week, day and even by the hour.

Need to submit a service request? You can do that with MyJacksonEMC. Select “Contact Us” for a list of options – like, outdoor light maintenance, transferring or disconnecting service, or subscribing to the JEMCO News e-news edition. Interested in budget billing? You can submit a request to ask about enrolling in budget billing with your MyJacksonEMC account.

To report an outage, use your MyJacksonEMC account. On the website, click on “Report an Issue/Inquiry” then click “Power Outage” to report an outage. On the app, click on “Report an Outage.” You can also choose if you want to receive notifications about your reported outage and track the status of your outage. There’s also a map on MyJacksonEMC, so you can see known outages. Outages can also be reported by calling Jackson EMC at 1-800-245-4044.

Sign Up for a MyJacksonEMC Account and Enter to Win an iPad Mini

Jackson EMC members who have signed up for a MyJacksonEMC account by August 30 will be registered to win one of five iPad Minis. You can sign up at MyJacksonEMC.com to pay your bill online, report an outage and view your energy use.

]]>latest,News,coop,innovationWed, 15 May 2019 10:12:47 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_myjacksonemcpromoscreenshot3.4.19-789527.jpg?10000Vehicles for Sale From Jackson EMChttp://news.jacksonemc.com/vehicles-for-sale-from-jackson-emc/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/vehicles-for-sale-from-jackson-emc/Jackson EMC has equipment for sale to members and employees.

Sealed bids will be accepted at the Jackson EMC headquarters in Jefferson until 3 p.m. on June 14, 2019, after which time bids will no longer be accepted.

Jackson EMC reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids.

These vehicles are being sold in “as is” condition with no written warranties. Vehicles may be viewed at the Jackson EMC office in Jefferson, located at 850 Commerce Highway, on June 4 and June 6, from 2-7 p.m. Come by at these dates and times ONLY to view the equipment.

Below is a listing of types and approximate quantities of the equipment and vehicles to be sold. All equipment and vehicles are retired from Jackson EMC’s fleet and are generally five years or older with odometer readings above 100,000 miles.

This list is subject to changes, additions and/or deletions. Standard bid sheets and a complete vehicle list will be provided in our main lobby on viewing dates.

]]>latest,News,coopWed, 15 May 2019 10:03:39 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_truck-141134.jpg?10000Ways to Save: Summer Rates Now in Effecthttp://news.jacksonemc.com/ways-to-save-summer-rates-now-in-effect-19/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/ways-to-save-summer-rates-now-in-effect-19/When temperatures rise in the summer, the demand for electricity to keep homes and businesses comfortable also rises, along with costs for providers to generate electricity.

But, for Jackson EMC members, the cost of electricity in the summer is among the lowest in the state, according to the Georgia Public Service Commission’s residential rate survey.

Out of 94 electric providers in the state, Jackson EMC’s standard residential summer rate last year ranked 19th lowest for members using 1,500 kWh a month.

Summer Rates

(May-September)

First 650 kWh: 8.81¢ per kWh

Next 350 kWh: 11.06¢ per kWh

Over 1000 kWh: 11.66¢ per kWh

To help lower your monthly bill this summer, reduce the amount of energy you use by following the tips available at jacksonemc.com/waystosave.

]]>latest,News,coop,saving,energyWed, 15 May 2019 10:02:31 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_istock-969233490-632029.jpg?10000Perspective: A Journey Forwardhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/perspective-a-journey-forward/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/perspective-a-journey-forward/In this issue of JEMCO News, you’ll learn more about MyJacksonEMC – a new website and mobile application to manage your Jackson EMC account. As a member, your journey with MyJacksonEMC starts when you download the new app or visit the new website. Many of you have already started using MyJacksonEMC and we hope you’re seeing the benefits.

Like any journey, there’s always a beginning. For Jackson EMC, this latest journey started four years ago. That’s when we surveyed our members to ask about the cooperative. Through phone calls, online forums and meetings, we received feedback about our performance. Overall, members gave us very positive feedback about the job we’re doing. We also learned about areas we could improve.

One of those areas was technology. The research showed more than half of our members reported visiting our website for billing-related items. We also heard about ways to improve their online experience for paying their bill and receiving outage updates in ways that we couldn’t offer in

the past. At the time, we used several software systems for our outage management, member information and other services. They worked on their own, but they didn’t easily work well together to provide real-time information.

A team of employees from across the cooperative was assigned to research how we could improve our technology and recommend a strategy that would make Jackson EMC better for its members. In 2017, based on those recommendations, we started to work on a project to move all our systems to a single software package.

Behind the scenes, while our employees developed plans for moving all our software to the new system, they also kept business going as usual. I commend the incredible talent, commitment and creativity of our employees who made this transition happen while staying focused on our members. As Gerry Sidhom, our project manager for this initiative, explains: “We had to build a plane, while keeping the other one flying.”

What’s landed for you is MyJacksonEMC, a new one-stop way to pay your bill, view your energy use, report outages and sign up for services. It’s exciting to see that members can do all these things more easily from a new app or website. What’s also exciting is the technology that powers MyJacksonEMC lays the foundation for additional enhancements in the future.

I’m proud of the collaboration we saw along the journey to make this project a success. For our members, this represents a leap forward for Jackson EMC to be the best, forward-thinking, innovative energy supplier, providing a friendly and fulfilling work environment.

]]>latest,News,coopWed, 15 May 2019 09:54:00 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_chip2-113505.jpg?10000Jackson EMC Linemen Take Trophies at Georgia Lineman's Rodeohttp://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-linemen-take-trophies-at-georgia-linemans-rodeo-19/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-linemen-take-trophies-at-georgia-linemans-rodeo-19/(JEFFERSON, GA. May 10, 2019) -- Jackson EMC linemen out matched many others from across the state at the 26th annual Georgia Lineman’s Rodeo, held May 4 in Fort Valley, Georgia.

Four Jackson EMC Journeyman teams finished in the top ten out of a total of 29 teams. And, five apprentices finished in the top ten out of a group of 76 apprentices from across the state. These competitors completed a series of events that test traditional linemen skills and tasks. In total, Jackson EMC sent eight journeymen teams and 15 apprentices to the Georgia Lineman’s Rodeo.

“Being a lineman is an honor, but it’s also one of the most dangerous jobs in America,” said Joe Dorough, vice president of engineering and operations at Jackson EMC. “By participating in the rodeo, our linemen refine their skillset with other professionals and improve their work, which is often done in difficult conditions.

Based on their experience and training, linemen who have worked in the industry for at least seven years, and show the necessary skills, receive the distinction of journeymen. For rodeo, a journeymen linemen team includes three competitors who test their skills in a series of four events. Apprentice linemen also compete in four individual events and complete a written test.

JOURNEYMEN DIVISION

Ben Campbell, Jerry Minish and Brandon Carter — a journeymen team from Neese — finished second place overall in the journeymen division. Greg Angel, Dwayne Dickerson and Jason Bond — a journeymen team from Neese — finished third place overall in the journeymen division. Jeff Sutton, Kaleb Chapman and Jeremy Adams — a journeymen team with members from Oakwood and Jefferson — finished fifth place overall in the journeymen division.

Sutton, Chapman and Adams finished first in the hurtman rescue, switch relocation and jumper replacement (mystery event #2). Angel, Dickerson and Bond finished third in armor rod replacement (mystery event #1) and third in the EMC division. Campbell, Minish and Carter finished second in the EMC division and third in the switch relocation. Matt Tolar Will Chase and Kevin Grant, a journeymen team from Gainesville, finished second in the hurtman rescue.

In the journeymen senior division, Terry Jones, Daryll Bond and David Holloway finished second overall.

APRENTICE DIVISION

Collin Ward, of Jefferson, finished third place overall in the apprentice division. He also finished third place overall in the EMC division of apprentices and third place in the tank mount arrestor change event. Dillon Welborn, of Jefferson, finished fourth place overall in the apprentice division and second place in the insulator replacement (mystery event #2).

Other top finishers include: Devin Humphries, sixth place overall; Cody Thompson, eighth place overall; and Josh Nix, ninth place overall.

“Our linemen are highly skilled professionals and did a great job at this year’s rodeo,” said Tommy Parker, director of operation services at Jackson EMC. “The linemen’s rodeo also allows the competitors’ families to see their loved ones in action and they have tremendous support on the sidelines.”

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, the largest electric cooperative in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation, is headquartered 50 miles northeast of Atlanta in Jefferson, Ga. The cooperative serves more than 230,000 meters on 14,132 miles of energized wire. For more information, visit jacksonemc.com.

]]>latest,News,coop,rodeoFri, 10 May 2019 09:38:13 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_20190504rodeo630-396736.jpg?10000Perspective: Practice, Persistence and Teamworkhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/perspective-practice-persistence-and-teamwork/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/perspective-practice-persistence-and-teamwork/Like many folks, I’m a big fan of college football. It’s one of my favorite pastimes. Ask me what I’m doing on most Saturdays in the fall and it’s usually something related to watching football – whether on a screen or in the stands.

OK, so I know we’re still several months away from the start of football season. But, as I write this, both players and coaches are getting ready for next season’s games. Right now, there’s practice, persistence and teamwork underway to prepare everyone for competition.

The same thing is going on at Jackson EMC right now. Our “sport” is a little different, but it’s equally exciting. On our training fields, we’re getting ready for the Georgia Lineman’s Rodeo — an annual event that brings together the best linemen in the state to compete in events based on traditional linemen skills. In recent years, some of our linemen have won top team and individual honors at the Georgia Lineman’s Rodeo. Last fall, two journeyman lineman teams from Jackson EMC won some of the highest awards at the International Lineman’s Rodeo, held in October.

It’s an honor to support these talented and skilled professionals as they compete among their peers. A rodeo is a great way for linemen to learn from each other, including those from other electric cooperatives. There’s a strong sense of camaraderie when linemen hear about the experiences of others and learn from each other.

Just as I enjoy seeing a football player evolve from their freshman to senior season, it’s rewarding to watch our apprentices grow their skills as linemen through their participation in rodeo. Many of our experienced journeymen linemen and foremen, who serve as rodeo coaches for the younger competitors, are also accomplished rodeo participants. Working together in the competitive rodeo environment makes them better prepared for the challenges they face every day on the job. The emphasis on safety, skills and teamwork at rodeo are vital to the real-life work of linemen.

You know what’s also special about lineman’s rodeo? The strong sense of family. Jackson EMC linemen are joined by their families for an exciting competition. You’ll see spouses and kids cheering for their favorite lineman, all while sharing in fellowship with other lineman families. Most of the year, these families make tremendous sacrifices to support their loved one’s career. At rodeo, they see them put their talent in action – and cheer them on.

The truth is, the linemen who work so hard to restore power any time of the year are always a shining light for the community. At rodeo, they get an opportunity to shine a little brighter.

Have a story about the extraordinary work of a lineman? Share it with me at chip@jacksonemc.com.

]]>latest,News,coop,perspectiveMon, 15 Apr 2019 09:11:27 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_chip2-113505.jpg?10000Need to Know: Calculating Your Capital Creditshttp://news.jacksonemc.com/19-capital-credits/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/19-capital-credits/One of the benfits of being a member of a cooperative is receiving capital credits.

Jackson EMC is a not-for-profit electric cooperative owned by our members. Each year, amounts collected above the cost of providing electric service are credited to members’ capital accounts based on their patronage (total billing less sales tax).

Your 2018 capital was 6.658 percent of your total patronage. See the example to calculate your capital credit.

This notification is for all rates, except QF, LPS, LGS or MBS (you can find your rate designation printed on your monthly bill). Members with those rates have received a separate notification.

]]>latest,News,coopMon, 15 Apr 2019 09:10:48 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_istock-1138743669-357086.jpg?10000Perspective: Making Memories. Saving Energy.http://news.jacksonemc.com/perspective-making-memories-saving-energy/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/perspective-making-memories-saving-energy/Ask any parent about their responsibilities raising children and you’ll often hear the word “teach.” You’ll hear it used in examples like, “teach my kids how to tie their shoe” or “teach my kids how to ride a bike.”

As a dad who recently became an empty nester, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the things my wife and I taught our kids over the years. Was it the right stuff? Did we give them the skills they need? And sometimes – now that the house is kid-free and quiet – I even have time to think about the lessons my kids taught me.

A lot of the lessons my kids taught me centered around mastering the skill of patience (but that’s a story for another day). Many of the other lessons they taught me were inspired by the things they were doing at school – like homework and projects. I had to relearn those things I worked so hard to forget … everything from memorizing vocabulary words to long division.

I’m smiling as I write this because those truly were some great bonding moments that we spent together around the kitchen table doing homework and projects. As my mom would say, “we made a lot of memories.” I’m also smiling because Earth Day is approaching on April 22. I’m sure that parents and kids are making their own memories as they scramble to complete an Earth Day project or homework assignment. They’re making creative things from recycled products or researching some assignment on new ways to make the planet greener.

So, parents: If you’re out of ideas, this issue of JEMCO News is coming to your rescue. This issue has plenty of fun ideas on how to teach kids about saving energy. And what could be greener than that? These ideas are intended to engage you and your child with entertaining activities. As you’ll see with these ideas, celebrating Earth Day is easier and more enjoyable than you may be thinking. Why not have some fun teaching kids to save energy? You won’t have to mention they’re saving you money while they’re at it!

Making small changes to when you use energy could help you save on your electric bill.

By signing up for Jackson EMC’s Time-of-Use rate, you can take advantage of a year-round lower electric rate for reducing your energy use between the hours of 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays from June 1 to Sept. 15.

Reducing your energy use during summer peak periods helps us control the higher costs of producing electricity in the summer.

For participating members, Jackson EMC installs a meter that logs all energy used during peak and off-peak periods. During peak periods (3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, excluding the Independence Day and Labor Day holidays, between June 1 to Sept. 15), the cost of electricity per kilowatt hour will be 34.35 cents. During off-peak periods, the cost lowers significantly for Time-of-Use participating members to only 7.35 cents per kilowatt hour. The normal residential rate is 8.81-11.66 cents per kilowatt hour. The monthly service charge for Time-of-Use members is $25 per month.

To participate this summer, sign up by May 1. Members who sign up after May 1 will begin the Time-of-Use rate next summer. Register by calling 1-800-462-3691 or visiting your local Jackson EMC office.

We have members.

If you receive power from Jackson EMC, you’re a member-owner of this cooperative. Along with receiving margin refunds and having a say in the management of the cooperative, you have access to additional services.

Through our online energy efficiency store, Jackson EMC Marketplace, members can receive instant rebates on select smart thermostats. In addition, members can shop for LED lightbulbs, connected home products, water-saving products and more.

Members over age 62 with a total household income less than $16,910 can receive a $12.50 credit on their monthly bill. An application with additional requirements and instructions for the senior/low-income discount is available online.

Members interested in adding monitored security service from EMC Security to their home or business can add the charges to their monthly electric bill. EMC Security offers professionally-installed or DIY security systems and video cameras.

Members who participate in the Green Power program can reduce their impact on the environment without installing equipment. Participating members can purchase 150-kilowatt-hour blocks of green energy for an additional fee of $4.50 per month.

Whole-house surge protection is available for motor-driven appliances, such as HVAC units, refrigerators, garage door openers and water heaters. High-quality plug-in surge protectors are also available for $17-$88.

Low-interest loans up to $5,500 can help members complete energy efficient home improvements, such as installing ENERGY STAR®-rated appliances or installing an ENGERY STAR-qualified heat pump replacement.

Budget billing levels out the seasonal peaks of electricity use so members pay an average of their annual energy consumption each month.

Through our partnership with filterchange.coop, you can have the right-sized filters delivered to your door at the lowest price. You can also get email reminders when it’s time to check them. jacksonemc.com/filter

Rebates save you money if you need to replace your heat pump or water heater.

A principle of co-ops is cooperation among cooperatives. Keeping with that principle, when asked, Jackson EMC provides fellow co-ops assistance with power restoration efforts following major outages. Jackson EMC linemen will work alongside Amicalola EMC line crews to safely restore power to the co-op’s members.

]]>latest,News,coop,power restorationWed, 20 Feb 2019 10:00:45 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_jacksonemcdefaultlogo.png?10000What's on a Power Pole?http://news.jacksonemc.com/whats-on-a-power-pole/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/whats-on-a-power-pole/Have you wondered about the equipment on a power pole? Electric providers follow national standards for the equipment on poles and how they’re placed. Based on their location and the type of electric service they’re providing, the equipment on poles can vary. Still, as this illustration shows, here’s some basic equipment found on electric power distribution poles.

2. PRIMARY WIRES run on top. Each usually carries 14,400 volts of electricity from a substation.

3. SURGE ARRESTORS protect the transformer from lightning strikes.

4. POLE GROUND WIRE running the length of the pole — connects to the neutral wire to complete the circuit inside the transformer. It also directs electricity from lightning safely into the earth.

5. A POWER POLE TAG shows which electric provider has power lines on the pole. Jackson EMC's tag is shaped as a triangle.

6. TELEPHONE & CABLE TV lines are typically the lowest wires.

7. 40-FOOT POLES are sunk six feet into the ground.

8. INSULATORS (made of porcelain or a composite) prevent energized wires from contacting each other or the pole.

9. TRANSFORMERS convert higher voltage electricity from primary wires to lower voltage for use by consumers.

10. THE NEUTRAL WIRE acts as a line back to the substation and is tied to ground, balancing the electricity on the system.

11. A SECONDARY SERVICE DROP carries 120/240-volts of electricity to the end user. It has two "hot" wires from the transformer, and one bare neutral wire connected to the ground wire on the pole.

12.GUY WIRES help stabilize poles. They also are connected to the pole ground wire.

180,000 the approximate number of power poles in Jackson EMC's service area.

]]>latest,News,coopWed, 13 Feb 2019 12:33:13 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_pole-2-final2-446266.jpg?10000Share Your Recipes with Fellow Membershttp://news.jacksonemc.com/share-your-recipes-with-fellow-members/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/share-your-recipes-with-fellow-members/Did you know the recipe featured in each issue of JEMCO News was submitted by a Jackson EMC member?

That’s right. For years, we’ve heard how much you like the recipes in JEMCO News – and you can be part of this tradition, too.

You can submit your favorite recipes to share with members in JEMCO News. Each month, we take recipes submitted by members and try them ourselves. A winner is selected and given a prize package with kitchen goodies and gadgets.

This year, the prize package includes a popular pressure cooker, hand-held blender and other kitchen items from Jackson EMC.

Jackson EMC has a long history of sharing cooking ideas. When we began serving electricity in 1938, members didn’t know how to prepare food with electricity. So, employees of the cooperative taught members how to use this resource in their kitchens. That tradition continues today with members sharing their favorite recipes with fellow members. We also keep archives of recipes online at news.jacksonemc.com.

]]>latest,News,coopWed, 13 Feb 2019 12:32:42 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_20190109-jemcoreciperewards-5719w-354352.jpg?10000Telling Our Stories in 6 Words: Caroline Williamsonhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/telling-our-stories-in-6-words-caroline-williamson/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/telling-our-stories-in-6-words-caroline-williamson/Caroline Williamson worked for Jackson EMC for 36 years. She recently retired as senior communications coordinator at Oakwood E&O Center. Her six-word story is “learning to drive on icy roads.” Here, she shares how working for JEMC helped her learn how to drive in icy conditions:

I lived 23 years in North Hall County near Clermont and, for the last 13, have lived in Braselton. I worked for seven years at the Gainesville office before my move to Oakwood. Many of my years of service with Jackson EMC were before we had a centrally located dispatch center. Each district handled its own outage calls, and everyone was expected to report to work when phoned—day or night. This was before everyone had cellphones.

At the start of my career, Vivian Chapman and I drove ourselves to work, but the sleet turned to ice during the day. One day, Vivian left just ahead of me, and when she pulled out onto Dawsonville Highway, she did a 180-degree turn in her brand new Cutlass in the middle of the road. I slowed down as I pulled out onto the road, stayed back from the other vehicles, and drove home 16 miles with my hands clenched to the steering wheel.

I said “never again,” but that proved to be false. Over the years, I’ve driven on ice and in snow multiple times. As a mother, I never wanted my child in the car with me during those times; often daycare or school was closed, which meant my husband stayed at home or took our son to work with him.

Ice is ice, and you will slide. Snow can become compacted and turn to ice. Once it was so bad that Benny Bagwell phoned me and asked if I could open the Gainesville office, transfer the phone queue to Oakwood, and stay there until an employee from Gainesville could get to the office. Back then all the phone equipment was located at Gainesville. My husband had just had surgery and was recuperating at home; he told me if I started to slide to remain calm. Those of you who know me know that is impossible, but I did heed his advice and put it to good use on the drive in. I didn’t hit the brakes hard and somehow managed to recover after making a gentle turn. I was scared to death, but I made it to work.

Living in Braselton, I often encounter black ice on Highway 124 on my drive in to Oakwood. I have seen many cars sliding in all directions due to black ice conditions. I take it slowly and leave plenty of room between mine and other cars. I think experience more than anything else helps me remain calm.

My six-word story is “Learning to drive on icy roads.” Whenever there’s ice, my four-word story to anyone who doesn’t work for a utility or as an emergency responder is: “Stay off the road.”

Student leaders in high schools across Jackson EMC’s service area can experience a unique leadership opportunity in the nation’s capital this summer.

Applications are now open for the Washington Youth Tour – a week-long, all-expenses paid experience to develop students’ leadership skills while educating them about the cooperative business model, American history and government. The tour has been sponsored by the nation’s electric cooperatives since 1958. Jackson EMC will send four delegates to Washington, D.C. for the tour June 13-20, 2019.

Tour highlights include visits to the Smithsonian museums, the Newseum and Mount Vernon; a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery; and the Sunset Parade at the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima statue). Also, delegates will meet Georgia’s congressional delegation during a personalized tour of the U.S. Capitol.

Current high school sophomores and juniors with demonstrated potential for leadership, academic success and community service can learn more about the Washington Youth Tour, including how to apply, by visiting jacksonemc.com/wyt. The deadline to apply is Feb. 22.

]]>latest,coop,News,educationMon, 14 Jan 2019 17:02:17 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_wreathalldelegates2018-917129.jpg?65906Pay the Same Amount Each Month with Budget Billinghttp://news.jacksonemc.com/pay-the-same-amount-each-month-with-budget-billing/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/pay-the-same-amount-each-month-with-budget-billing/Need to know how much your electric bill will cost each month?

With Jackson EMC's budget billing program, you pay the same amount each month.

In winter and summer months, heating and air conditioning systems are used more often, which is reflected in electric bills. Budget billing takes the 12-month average of your household’s electric bill and balances it so you pay the same amount each month.

The cooperative is governed by a nine-member board of directors geographically representing the service area. Board members serve three-year staggered terms. Board members representing Gwinnett County, Barrow County, and Hall/Lumpkin counties will be elected at the 2019 Annual Meeting, which will be held on Thursday, September 19, 2019, at the corporate office in Jefferson.

Candidates may be nominated by the nominating committee, or by a petition complying with Article III Section 4 of the Bylaws that is signed by 50 or more members. Petitions must be delivered to the Corporation’s office in Jefferson not less than 150 days, and not more than 200 days, prior to the Annual Meeting. The complete director nomination and election process is contained in Articles II and III of the Jackson EMC Bylaws, which are available at jacksonemc.com or at any office.

]]>latest,need to know,News,coopMon, 14 Jan 2019 01:02:00 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_jacksonemcdefaultlogo.png?10000Telling Our Stories in 6 Words: Robert Hallhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/6-words-robert-hall/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/6-words-robert-hall/As Robert Hall sees it, Jackson EMC is a partner in his education. As a senior engineer, Robert is pursuing a master’s degree that’s not typical for his career field – business administration.

Robert started his career at Jackson EMC in 2017 after 14 years in the utility industry – which included many different regional moves during his career with a previous employer. Jackson EMC is his first experience working at a cooperative.

“My first year at Jackson EMC was centered on finding my footing,” he said.

By pursing his MBA through Brenau University, Robert said he’s taking steps to enhance his career development and leadership goals. His six-word story was, “Becoming a Better Engineer with Jackson EMC.”

“Really, it’s not just being a better engineer,” said Robert, who earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Southern Polytechnic State University. “It’s about being a better partner to my co-workers, our members and my family.”

The father of three started taking some classes in his MBA program before joining Jackson EMC. But once he joined the cooperative and learned about the employee educational assistance program, he decided to expedite his degree completion plans – while still balancing work and family life. Robert plans to graduate in 2020.

Robert said his job at Jackson EMC has been the best of his career. The grid automation project and working on the construction work plan has been some of the coolest work while at the cooperative.

“Everyone here is member-focused and wants to help,” he said.

Robert said he’s thankful for the career growth opportunities Jackson EMC has offered him, including engineering training courses.

]]>latest,employees,coop,co-opMon, 07 Jan 2019 11:37:45 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_six-words-robert-hall-722177.png?10000Jackson EMC Crews Help South Georgia, Florida Residents after Hurricanehttp://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-crews-help-south-georgia-florida-residents-after-hurricane/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-crews-help-south-georgia-florida-residents-after-hurricane/“Cooperation Among Cooperatives” is one of the principles that govern all cooperatives. So, when Hurricane Michael devastated parts of Florida and south Georgia, Jackson EMC was one of several electric cooperatives in the Southeast to answer calls for help from fellow cooperatives to restore power.

In south Georgia, all of Grady EMC’s 19,000-plus members lost power from Hurricane Michael. Jackson EMC sent 63 team members to help restore power to Grady EMC’s members.

“This could happen anywhere,” said Jeremiah Nash, a Jackson EMC line foreman who was part of the restoration effort in Cairo, Georgia. “It could happen at our house. It could happen wherever.”

Grady EMC housed visiting crews in large tents for overnight accommodations, while many residents volunteered to provide meals to crews.

“A lot of people count on linemen to get the power back on,” Nash said. “So, we don’t mind helping – staying away from home for however long if it helps everybody else out.”

After our crews returned from Grady EMC, another group of 21 Jackson EMC team members traveled to Florida to help Gulf Coast Electric Membership Cooperative restore power. Gulf Coast Electric serves 20,815 members. Its service area includes Panama City and Mexico Beach, which were some of the hardest hit areas by the hurricane on Oct. 11.

After a week of supporting restoration efforts around the Panama City area, our crews returned home.

]]>latest,coop,News,power restorationWed, 12 Dec 2018 08:58:19 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_20181019-gradycounty-11-292094.jpg?10000Jackson EMC working to restore outages after winter stormshttp://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-working-to-restore-outages-after-winter-storms/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-working-to-restore-outages-after-winter-storms/(JEFFERSON, GA. Dec. 9, 2018) – Heavy rainfall from Saturday’s storms saturated the ground, leaving trees susceptible to the storms accompanying strong winds, which blew down trees and limbs into power lines. Members across Jackson EMC’s 10-county service area began experiencing weather-related outages at 9 p.m. Linemen worked throughout the night to restore power to thousands of members. At 1 a.m., 3,990 members were without power.

Members may report outages from their computer or mobile device on the website, www.jacksonemc.com, or by calling 1-800-245-4044.

As the weather continues to be a threat in our area, we are monitoring the situation, and we will continue to send updates on any outages and our restoration efforts.

]]>latest,coop,co-op,weather,power restoration,outage updatesSun, 09 Dec 2018 09:01:32 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_jacksonemcdefaultlogo.png?10000Jackson EMC Linemen Named Among the Best at International Eventhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-linemen-named-among-the-best-at-international-event/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-linemen-named-among-the-best-at-international-event/(JEFFERSON, GA. Oct. 14, 2018) – A journeyman linemen team from Jackson EMC was named the top electric cooperative team at the 35th Annual International Lineman’s Rodeo in Bonner Springs, Kansas on Saturday. The event features some of the top linemen from around the world to compete in traditional linemen skills and tasks.

Jackson EMC sent two journeyman teams, each with three competitors, to the rodeo. Both teams won some of the highest awards at the international event.

The journeyman team with Justin Cash, Austin Gragg and Clay Phillips, all of Jefferson, won first place overall in the electric cooperative division at the rodeo. The team also placed second as the top overall team at the International Lineman’s Rodeo with a total time of 22:03.89. In addition, they won second place in an event to replace polymer insulators and seventh place in an event to change switches on a pole.

Kevin Grant, Matt Tolar and Scotty Tompkins, all of Oakwood, won third place as the top overall journeyman team with a total time of 22:17.83. They also won second place overall in the electric cooperative division, eighth place in the polymer insulator replacement event and eighth place in the switch changeout event.

“The rodeo is a great opportunity for our linemen to show their skills and knowledge of safety in this profession,” said Tommy Parker, Jackson EMC’s director of operation services. “We’re proud to support these linemen who participate in the rodeo and their fantastic results against so many other top competitors.”

This year’s International Lineman’s Rodeo, held Oct. 11-13, featured more than 300 apprentices and more than 200 journeyman teams competing in a series of events to test their skills. Apprentices compete as individuals, while journeyman teams include three team members.

Both apprentices and journeyman teams compete in hurt man rescue and pole climb events. In addition, there are two mystery events that are revealed to participants the day before competition. Apprentices also complete a written test that’s part of their overall score.

One of Jackson EMC’s apprentices, Dillon Welborn of Jefferson, placed ninth in the hurt man rescue event with a time of 1:02.13. The hurt man rescue simulates the rescue of an injured worker stranded at the top of a utility pole.

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, the largest electric cooperative in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation, is headquartered 50 miles northeast of Atlanta in Jefferson, Ga. The cooperative serves more than 229,000 meters on 14,000 miles of energized wire. For more information, visit jacksonemc.com.

Member-Focused

Since its beginnings, Jackson EMC has proven itself a company devoted to serving its community. Our cooperative started 80 years ago when neighbors and local leaders worked together to bring electricity to our area.

For those first members of Jackson EMC, electricity helped transform their homes, businesses, farms and schools. That spirit of cooperation continues to drive us to do what’s best for our members and community.

We’re committed to providing you, our members, with safe, reliable and affordable electricity. That means making infrastructure improvements to help ensure you have reliable electricity and finding ways to keep your electric costs low.

Jackson EMC isn’t just a utility business – we’re a cooperative. As a member of this cooperative, you’re essential to keeping our business strong through your involvement.

Continued Growth

Looking around our community, it’s clear our area continues to grow with new businesses, homes and schools. Three counties in our service area – Jackson, Barrow and Lumpkin counties – are among some of the fastest growing counties in the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Jackson EMC is also growing. In the past 12 months, we’ve added more than 4,000 residential meters to our

system and almost 400 new commercial/industrial meters. We now serve more than 228,000 meters.

Our commercial/industrial members are key players to keeping costs low for all members. Commercial businesses make up 10 percent of our membership, but use 40 percent of the electricity. This year, we added 13 megawatts of competitive commercial/industrial load from companies that chose Jackson EMC as their electric provider.

Over the last 12 months, our members used 5.3 billion kilowatt hours of electricity. That’s enough electricity to power a refrigerator in every household in the nation for a month. What’s even more impressive is that despite adding 11,000 new members since 2015, our kilowatt sales have remained about the same since that time. Our members are taking energy efficiency to heart. It’s evident that our members use the energy saving tips we share, including those in JEMCO News, in order to keep their personal and business power bills at a minimum while helping your cooperative keep costs stable for all of our members.

Preparing for the Future

With continued growth in our area, Jackson EMC remains committed to providing you with reliable electricity. We do that by making infrastructure improvements, such as building new power substations and installing smart technology to restore power quicker in the event of an outage.

In the past year, we have built two new substations – one in West Jackson to serve the rapidly-growing area along Highway 124 and another in Banks Crossing on Highway 441 to serve the growth in that area. The substation in Banks County will connect to a new transmission line, which will increase reliability for our members near Interstate 85.

Another effort for improving reliability is our grid automation project. Using advanced technology, these switches on our distribution network help restore power faster when outages occur. We installed an additional 48 automated switches this year, bringing the total to more than 250 of these on our system.

Overall, we invested $35 million in our distribution network last year to better serve members with reliable power.

Renewable Energy

In addition to investing in the reliability for our system, we’re also investing in new energy sources, like solar power. Through our partnership with Green Power EMC, our members now receive 12.7 megawatts of renewable electricity. Of that, 19 million kilowatt hours is generated through solar power. That’s enough electricity to power 1,300 homes. In 2021, we’ll add another five megawatts of solar power from a new project currently under construction in middle and south Georgia.

In our local classrooms, we support teachers who want to educate students about solar energy. The Sun Power for Schools program uses STEM-based programs to give students a hands-on experience while learning about renewable energy.

Community Impact

Thanks to members making donations through Operation Round Up, the Jackson EMC Foundation continues to make a difference in our community for organizations and individuals in need. Last year, our members helped give back $1,204,470 in grants – primarily for those needing housing,food, medical services, counseling and other services. We’re proud of our members for helping to distribute more than $13 million in our community since Operation Round Up started in 2005.

Jackson EMC also has a longstanding role in helping students succeed in the classroom and beyond. The Bright Ideas program, for example, has funded 123 innovative middle school classroom projects since 2015. The past 12 months also marked the 49th Quality Beef Show, where we support students learning leadership skills and discipline. And speaking of future leaders, we sent four highly-qualified high school students to Washington, D.C. for a leadership development program. Our students were a few of the more than 1,800 students from other electric cooperatives across the U.S. selected as delegates for the Washington Youth Tour.

In addition to the work we do supporting students, we sponsor many community activities and events, like Relay for Life and March of Dimes. We also support Habitat for Humanity, the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, and Boys and Girls Clubs in our community.

Serving Our Community

Many of our employees also give their time to serve a variety of causes in the area. “Concern for Community” one of the seven principles that govern all cooperatives around the world. And, our employees certainly believe in helping the community. Many Jackson EMC employees serve in civic clubs, on chamber committees, economic development authorities and on the boards of charitable organizations. We’re proud of the great number of our employees serving our youth as coaches, mentors and volunteers for organizations that are making an impact in our community.

Some of our linemen had the unique opportunity this year to serve the global community by bringing power to remote villages in Bolivia. Along with colleagues from other co-ops, these linemen spent two weeks in the Andes Mountains doing primitive line work to help turn on the lights in these communities for the first time. Click here to view the video of our linemen in Bolivia.

Your Power. Your Community.

When our employees report to work each day, they have a purpose – to exceed our members’ expectations with reliable, courteous and personalized service. Thanks to our members and employees, our cooperative is strong.

As a not-for-profit cooperative, a portion of revenues left over after all the bills are paid each year – we call them “margin refunds” – are returned to our members at the end of the year. Last December, eligible Jackson EMC members received $9 million in these margin refunds. This year, the board of directors is pleased to announce that in December we’ll mail $10 million in refunds to members who received service in 1990, 1991 and/or 2017. When that refund is mailed, Jackson EMC will have returned approximately $135 million to our members since we were founded in 1938.

There’s something for everyone at our Annual Meeting on September 27. Children will enjoy inflatables, candy art and clowns, while adults learn about the cooperative’s operations and our plans for the future. Everyone in attendance receives one meal ticket for a barbecue chicken dinner and ice cream to be enjoyed onsite. A Health Fair offers free services, and our Member Appreciation area features products and services dedicated to energy efficiency, savings and security. Throughout the evening, Karen Peck and New River will perform, and everyone has the chance to win a door prize!

Health Fair Services and Information Booth

Several health agencies from across our service area will offer basic health testing for members. Healthcare professionals will be onsite to:

• Check blood pressure and pulse rate

• Test glucose levels

• Perform cholesterol screenings

• Test vision and eye health

• Screen carotid arteries

• Conduct hearing screenings

Members may also have Child ID kits made, along with a variety of other free services, evaluations and information.

Kids Carnival

Kids will enjoy attractions from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Kids Carnival, including:

• 22-foot Slide

• Kids’ Zone

• Lil’ Tykes Village

• Inflatables

• Obstacle Course

• Candy Art Station

• Clowns

• Games

Member Appreciation

Learn more about the benefits of being a Jackson EMC member in the Member Appreciation area:

• Spin the wheel for fun prizes

• Preview the latest ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances

• Discover what makes a Right Choice home awesome

• Understand the importance of air flowing in your house

• Learn about solar products for your home

• Learn how to protect your home or business with EMC Security

Grand Prize and Other Gifts and Prizes

Each Jackson EMC account holder in attendance at Annual Meeting is eligible to receive one member appreciation gift and one raffle ticket for door prizes. Along with this gift, each registered account member gets the chance to win a variety of door prizes and the Grand Prize. Prize numbers will be announced throughout the evening. You must be present to win.

]]>coopThu, 06 Sep 2018 11:01:00 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_programicon.jpg?10000Annual Meeting: Driving & Parking Directionshttp://news.jacksonemc.com/annual-meeting-driving--parking-directions-2018/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/annual-meeting-driving--parking-directions-2018/For the best experience, we encourage members to park in our off-site parking areas. Shuttles run to two parking areas every 30 minutes and drop members off at the entrance to the meeting.

To park at Jackson County Comprehensive High School: 1668 Winder Highway, Jefferson

To park at Jackson EMC: 850 Commerce Highway, Jefferson

• At the second traffic light into downtown Jefferson, turn left onto Hwy.15 (Alt.) which becomes 82/15 (Alt.).

• Travel on Hwy.15 N (Alt.) toward Commerce.

• Jackson EMC is located at 850 Commerce Hwy., on the right at the top of the hill.

From Athens

• Travel north on Hwy. 129.

• At Arcade, turn right onto Hwy. 129 (Bus.).

• At traffic light, turn right onto Hwy. 82/15.

• Travel on Hwy.15 N (Alt.) toward Commerce.

• Jackson EMC is located at 850 Commerce Hwy., on the right at the top of the hill.

For Off-Site Parking: Shuttle buses run every 30 minutes to drop you off at the annual meeting entrance.

]]>coopThu, 06 Sep 2018 10:59:48 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_map.png?10000Jackson EMC to Expand Solar Energy Capacityhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-to-expand-solar-energy-capacity/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-to-expand-solar-energy-capacity/(JEFFERSON, GA. June 29, 2018) – Jackson EMC will participate in a new solar project that will expand the cooperative’s energy portfolio with an additional 5 megawatts of solar. The project is a joint effort among electric cooperatives in the state to expand solar facilities.

Overall, the project will generate 194 megawatts of solar energy for participating electric cooperatives in the state by 2021. Jackson EMC’s share of the new solar portfolio would provide enough electricity for 900 average households a year.

Jackson EMC is among 30 Georgia electric cooperatives that will purchase the output of the planned solar projects through Green Power EMC, the renewable energy supplier for 38 Georgia Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs). The solar facilities are being funded and built by owner-operator Silicon Ranch Corporation, based in Nashville, Tenn. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year.

The total capacity from the utility scale solar arrays will be distributed across four locations in middle and south Georgia. Sites have been selected for each of the facilities pending successful negotiation of all agreements with the local government entities.

When construction is completed, Jackson EMC is expected to have 25.7 megawatts of solar generation capacity – or supply enough energy to 4,200 average households annually.

The new project, along with other recent solar initiatives, has increased Jackson EMC’s solar portfolio by 350 percent since 2016.

“Our commitment to expanding the state’s renewable resources by adding more solar energy to our generation portfolio not only makes economic sense, it will help to ensure cost-effective, clean energy well into the future,” said Chip Jakins, President and CEO of Jackson EMC.

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, the largest electric cooperative in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation, is headquartered 50 miles northeast of Atlanta in Jefferson, Ga. The cooperative serves more than 227,000 meters on 14,000 miles of energized wire. For more information, visit jacksonemc.com.

###

]]>latest,News,coop,solar,innovationMon, 02 Jul 2018 07:00:00 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_solarpanels-2.jpg?10000Linemen from Jackson EMC Bring Electricity to Villages in Boliviahttp://news.jacksonemc.com/bolivia/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/bolivia/(JEFFERSON, GA. May 29, 2018) – Four Jackson EMC linemen joined a volunteer team, sponsored by the NRECA International Foundation, which traveled to Bolivia to bring electricity to two remote villages in the Andes Mountains.

Jackson EMC partnered with Carroll EMC, Cobb EMC, Coweta-Fayette EMC, and Flint Energies to send a total of 11 linemen to build nine miles of line. Their work brought electricity to the agricultural villages of San Isidro and Murmutani, which had waited 10 years for access.

Gary Davis and Chris Wallace, journeyman linemen from Jackson EMC’s Gwinnett district, and Greg Angel and Tommy Minish, from the cooperative’s Neese district, were members of the team who brought light to 38 families.

The most significant challenge they faced was the high altitude, which made the team concerned about completing the assignment.

“You walked 10-15 feet and had to stop and catch your breath, so trying to climb a pole made it even harder at 13,000 feet above sea level,” Davis said.

“It was harder than expected,” Minish said. “It took us about four days to adjust to the altitude.”

Without modern equipment, the linemen walked pole to pole in hard terrain, often on the side of mountains.

“Their way of building lines is different; it’s really an old way,” Angel said. “So we had to step back in time.”

Minish added: “It was primitive work, back to the roots of line work. We didn’t have enough tools and it was all by-hand.”

“You put 11 linemen together for the first time, in high altitude, without the modern equipment we have at Jackson EMC, and it was remarkable what we were able to accomplish,” said Angel. After overcoming the initial challenges, the team finished the job a day early.

“The local villagers were very happy to see us and they were very excited and eager to help,” said Wallace.

Since they didn’t have a bucket truck or a cable puller, the villagers helped pull wire.

“One of my strongest memories is of a woman carrying a toddler on her back pulling wire up the side of the mountain where we were struggling just to walk,” said Minish.

Wallace explained his favorite memory of a 72-year-old man who farmed in the village his whole life. “He walked circles around everybody; he literally ran everywhere. He was so excited to work with us.”

After the villagers turned on the lights for the first time, they created a special celebration and presented the volunteer team with leis and sprinkled confetti on their heads, which is a traditional symbol of abundance Finally, they gave each lineman a hand-made alpaca wool hat.

Minish continued: “They will be able to grow and improve their communities. It reunited families. Children were living in the city with relatives because they didn’t have electricity to see their school work. Getting lights to these villages enabled the families to live together now.”

“It feels good to be part of a company making a difference,” Davis added.

This project was made possible by NRECA International, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, whose mission is to increase individual and community access to electricity in all parts of the world.

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, the largest electric cooperative in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation, is headquartered 50 miles northeast of Atlanta in Jefferson, Ga. The cooperative serves more than 227,000 meters on 14,000 miles of energized wire. For more information, visit jacksonemc.com.

]]>coop,communityTue, 29 May 2018 17:00:00 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_042018-bolivia-359.jpg?10000Volunteer Linemen from Jackson EMC Bring Electricity to Villages in Boliviahttp://news.jacksonemc.com/volunteer-linemen-from-jackson-emc-bring-electricity-to-villages-in-bolivia/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/volunteer-linemen-from-jackson-emc-bring-electricity-to-villages-in-bolivia/(JEFFERSON, GA. May 29, 2018) – Four Jackson EMC linemen joined a volunteer team, sponsored by the NRECA International Foundation, which traveled to Bolivia to bring electricity to two remote villages in the Andes Mountains.

Jackson EMC partnered with Carroll EMC, Cobb EMC, Coweta-Fayette EMC, and Flint Energies to send a total of 11 linemen to build nine miles of line. Their work brought electricity to the agricultural villages of San Isidro and Murmutani, which had waited 10 years for access.

Gary Davis and Chris Wallace, journeyman linemen from Jackson EMC’s Gwinnett district, and Greg Angel and Tommy Minish, from the cooperative’s Neese district, were members of the team who brought light to 38 families.

The most significant challenge they faced was the high altitude, which made the team concerned about completing the assignment.

“You walked 10-15 feet and had to stop and catch your breath, so trying to climb a pole made it even harder at 13,000 feet above sea level,” Davis said.

“It was harder than expected,” Minish said. “It took us about four days to adjust to the altitude.”

Without modern equipment, the linemen walked pole to pole in hard terrain, often on the side of mountains.

“Their way of building lines is different; it’s really an old way,” Angel said. “So we had to step back in time.”

Minish added: “It was primitive work, back to the roots of line work. We didn’t have enough tools and it was all by-hand.”

“You put 11 linemen together for the first time, in high altitude, without the modern equipment we have at Jackson EMC, and it was remarkable what we were able to accomplish,” said Angel. After overcoming the initial challenges, the team finished the job a day early.

“The local villagers were very happy to see us and they were very excited and eager to help,” said Wallace.

Since they didn’t have a bucket truck or a cable puller, the villagers helped pull wire.

“One of my strongest memories is of a woman carrying a toddler on her back pulling wire up the side of the mountain where we were struggling just to walk,” said Minish.

Wallace explained his favorite memory of a 72-year-old man who farmed in the village his whole life. “He walked circles around everybody; he literally ran everywhere. He was so excited to work with us.”

After the villagers turned on the lights for the first time, they created a special celebration and presented the volunteer team with leis and sprinkled confetti on their heads, which is a traditional symbol of abundance Finally, they gave each lineman a hand-made alpaca wool hat.

Minish continued: “They will be able to grow and improve their communities. It reunited families. Children were living in the city with relatives because they didn’t have electricity to see their school work. Getting lights to these villages enabled the families to live together now.”

“It feels good to be part of a company making a difference,” Davis added.

This project was made possible by NRECA International, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, whose mission is to increase individual and community access to electricity in all parts of the world.

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, the largest electric cooperative in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation, is headquartered 50 miles northeast of Atlanta in Jefferson, Ga. The cooperative serves more than 227,000 meters on 14,000 miles of energized wire. For more information, visit jacksonemc.com.

]]>latest,News,coop,communityTue, 29 May 2018 07:30:00 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_042018-bolivia-359.jpg?10000Vehicles for Salehttp://news.jacksonemc.com/vehicles-for-sale-spring18/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/vehicles-for-sale-spring18/Jackson EMC has equipment for sale to members and employees. Sealed bids will be accepted at the Jackson EMC headquarters in Jefferson until 3 p.m., June 22, 2018, after which time bids will no longer be accepted. Jackson EMC reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids.

These vehicles are being sold in “as is” condition with no written warranties. Vehicles may be viewed at the Jackson EMC office in Jefferson (located at 850 Commerce Highway) on June 12 and on June 14, between the hours of 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Come by at these dates and times ONLY to view the equipment.

The list below contains the types and approximate quantities of the equipment and vehicles to be sold. All equipment and vehicles are retired from Jackson EMC’s fleet and are generally five years or older with odometer readings above 100,000 miles.

This list is subject to changes, additions and/or deletions. Standard bid sheets and a complete vehicle list will be provided in our main lobby on viewing dates.

]]>latest,coop,NewsThu, 10 May 2018 08:37:49 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_vehicleforsalegraphic.jpg?10000Restoring Power to Puerto Rico: '19,000 Miles of Tangled Wires'http://news.jacksonemc.com/restoring-power-to-puerto-rico-19000-miles-of-tangled-wires/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/restoring-power-to-puerto-rico-19000-miles-of-tangled-wires/(JEFFERSON, GA. Jan. 29, 2018) — Imagine all residential and industrial members in the Jackson EMC service area and beyond are totally without electricity -- all lines were demolished, all poles were on the ground, all substations were flooded. That is the equivalent to what a crew of linemen witnessed when they arrived in Puerto Rico on November 3.

Hurricane Maria made a direct hit on the island of Puerto Rico when it made landfall on September 20 and caused unprecedented destruction to the island 3.4 million people call home. The Category 5 hurricane destroyed infrastructure, including generation, transmission and distribution systems of electricity. In November, Jackson EMC released a five-man crew from Pike, normally assigned to the Neese District in Madison County, for a 30-day period to help in the island’s power restoration effort. Upon their return, they sat down over lunch with another crew scheduled for a three-month assignment. The crew will be joining 1,000 other contractors expected to arrive from across the continental United States in late January.

“We watched the devastation on the news, but it was worse than any storm damage I’ve seen here,” said veteran crew leader Larry Ferguson, who has seen his share of storm damage in 20 years of service. “I was expecting to see wooden poles like we have here,” he continued, “Instead, we found concrete triple circuits on the ground. That tells you the level of devastation and why it’s taking so long to restore power.”

What is a concrete triple circuit, you ask? While the distribution poles used by Jackson EMC and other power companies in the United States are wooden, distribution poles in Puerto Rico were made of concrete, similar in size to our transmission poles. Each circuit on the pole had four wires, totaling 12 wires per pole.

“So, a hurricane strong enough to knock over virtually all the concrete poles is massive,” said Ferguson. “Almost 19,000 miles of wire were tangled in a big jumble.”

The crew who returned included Ben Brissey, Larry Ferguson, Devin Humpheirs, Drake Lathan, and Matt Snow. They arrived in Puerto Rico on November 3 and stayed three weeks, including Thanksgiving. “The people on the island were so friendly and welcoming to us,” said Snow. “The folks at the hotel didn’t have power at their own homes, but they came to work everyday with a smile. They were really grateful we were there. For Thanksgiving, they made turkey, rice and dressing for us.”

The crew stayed at a small beach hotel that didn’t have electricity either, but was powered through a generator, “You really discover how addicted you are to social media on a trip like this,” said Brissey. “We had intermittent internet signals and no Wi-Fi, so we really made friends with other contractors and workers who had come to help.”

The crew was assigned to help repair distribution lines to a hospital in the Rio Grande area in northeastern Puerto Rico. “Just like here, hospitals are a priority,” said Snow.

Keith Taylor, another veteran line foreman and crew leader for the next mission, listened intently to the stories and advice from the crew members who had returned from Puerto Rico. “I think the best advice I’ve heard is to take plenty of sunscreen and granola bars,” said Taylor.

“I’m really excited for the young guys on my crew, who will see first-hand the difference you can make in the lives of others. Four of these guys are under age 22 and never been on a plane. They volunteered for this assignment, and from what I’ve heard from the guys today, this is going be the biggest challenge they’ve faced. We have an idea of what to expect now,” said Taylor, “and no one has backed out.”

Other photos show the scope of work for crews working to restore power in Puerto Rico.

]]>latest,coop,NewsMon, 29 Jan 2018 09:05:13 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_20180111puertorico22.jpeg?10000Washington Youth Tour Applications Openhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/washington-youth-tour-applications-open/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/washington-youth-tour-applications-open/A tour of the U.S. Capitol and the Supreme Court, meeting Georgia’s congressional delegates, lunch at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, and other opportunities to explore our nation’s capital are available for young leaders on the Washington Youth Tour.

Sponsored by the nation’s electric cooperatives since 1958, the Washington Youth Tour is designed to build leadership skills while educating young people about the cooperative business model and American history and government.

Jackson EMC will send four student delegates who will join 110 teens from Georgia’s electric co-ops. Together, they will meet 1,700 delegates from 42 other states in Washington, D.C. on June 7-14, 2018.

The intense week begins with leadership and team building exercises and a banquet in Atlanta before flying into D.C. for a week-long, fast-paced experience.

Highlights for the 2018 tour include a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, an evening tour of the National Mall monuments, a sunset parade at the Iwo Jima statue, a cruise on the Potomac River, and a dinner performance of the Broadway musical “Newsies.” Plus, delegates will tour Mount Vernon, the United States Capitol, the Smithsonian museums, the Supreme Court and the Washington National Cathedral.

High school sophomores and juniors with demonstrated potential for leadership, academic success and community service should apply through their high school guidance counselor, who will nominate one candidate for consideration. Ten finalists will interview with a panel of business, community and university leaders to be one of Jackson EMC’s four delegates to receive the all-expenses paid leadership development experience in D.C. Deadlines vary for each school, so check the counselor’s office for due dates. All applicants must be 16 years old by June 1, 2018. Do not send applications to Jackson EMC directly.

The cooperative is governed by a nine-member board of directors geographically representing the service area. Board members serve three-year staggered terms. Board members representing Banks, Jackson and Madison counties will be elected at the 2018 Annual Meeting, which will be held on Thursday, September 27, 2018, at the corporate offices in Jefferson.

Candidates may be nominated by the nominating committee, or by a petition complying with Article III Section 4 of the Bylaws that is signed by 50 or more members. Petitions must be delivered to the Corporation’s office in Jefferson not less than 150 days, and not more than 200 days, prior to the Annual Meeting. The complete director nomination and election process is contained in Articles II and III of the Jackson EMC Bylaws, which are available at jacksonemc.com or at any office.

]]>coop,NewsThu, 11 Jan 2018 16:59:32 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_jacksonemcdefaultlogo.png?10000"Thank a Lineman" License Plate Now Available for Georgia Motoristshttp://news.jacksonemc.com/thank-a-lineman-license-plate-now-available-for-georgia-motorists-1/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/thank-a-lineman-license-plate-now-available-for-georgia-motorists-1/You can show your support and appreciation for Jackson EMC linemen and other utility line crews through the purchase of Georgia’s first “Thank a Lineman” vehicle license plate.

Proceeds from the new specialty license plate will benefit the Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation, which provides assistance to burn patients and their families at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta.

Each year you renew the specialty license plate, $10 of the Georgia Department of Revenue's $35 annual specialty tag fee for "Thank a Lineman" license plates will be contributed to the Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation.

The new specialty license plate became available in October — one month after Tropical Storm Irma, which caused extensive damage to power lines in Georgia. Jackson EMC linemen and other utility line crews received widespread support from their communities as linemen worked to restore power after Irma.

Georgians interested in purchasing a "Thank a Lineman" license plate may visit www.sfbf.net/license-plate when renewing their annual motor vehicle registration.

]]>latest,coopThu, 14 Dec 2017 08:42:23 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_electricutilitylinemanlicenseplate06032016.jpg?10000Jackson EMC Returns $9 Million in Margin Refundshttp://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-returns-9-million-in-margin-refunds-1/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-returns-9-million-in-margin-refunds-1/Most Jackson EMC members will receive a check in the mail this month. Approximately 211,000 members and former members will receive their share of a total $9 million in margin refunds in December.

“As owners of a not-for-profit cooperative, you’re entitled to a portion of the funds left over each year after all of the cooperative’s expenses are paid, which we call margin refunds,” said Board Chairman Chuck Steele. “Your board is proud to be able to return it to you.”

Margins are refunded for a combination of years so that both longtime and newer members, as well as former members, benefit from belonging to an electric cooperative. This year, margin refunds will go to those who received electric service from Jackson EMC in 1990 and/or 2016. The sum of each member’s refund check is calculated according to the amount each member paid for electric service during those years.

After this December’s refund, Jackson EMC will have refunded $124.5 million in margin refunds to our member owners since our cooperative was founded in 1938.

Jackson EMC refunds margins, surplus above operating expenses, to its members each year. By 1963, the co-op had returned more than $1 million to members and had the highest margin refund record of any electric cooperative in the state. This record of returning margins to members ranks among the highest of the 840 electric cooperatives in the nation.

]]>latest,coopThu, 14 Dec 2017 08:41:31 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_mail.jpg?10000Jackson EMC Donates $20K to Good Samaritan Dental Clinichttp://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-donates-20k-to-good-samaritan-dental-clinic/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-donates-20k-to-good-samaritan-dental-clinic/(JEFFERSON, GA. Dec. 12, 2017) – Jackson EMC has donated $20,000 to the Good Samaritan Clinic of Gwinnett for the purchase of equipment for the new dental clinic.

Gwinnett’s only full-time charity dental practice serves uninsured residents of Gwinnett County and has delivered more than 2,500 dental appointments since July 2017. “This money will enable us to purchase more dental chairs and other equipment so we can provide even more care for the poor and uninsured of our community,” said Greg Lang, executive director of the Good Samaritan Clinic.

Lang continued, “We offer low-cost dental care to serve those who are poor, do not have dental insurance, and cannot afford routine dental care in traditional settings.”

The Jackson EMC donation was made from margin refunds that have been unclaimed by the electric cooperative’s members for five years. Legislation passed in 2005 permits Georgia electric cooperatives to make charitable, education and economic development contributions of unclaimed margin refunds.

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, the largest electric cooperative in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation, is headquartered 50 miles northeast of Atlanta in Jefferson, Ga. The cooperative serves more than 225,000 meters on 14,000 miles of energized wire. For more information, visit jacksonemc.com.

Photo: Jackson EMC Gwinnett District Manager Randy Dellinger presents Greg Lang, executive director of the Good Samaritan Clinic, and his staff with a $20,000 Jackson EMC check to Good Samaritan Clinic Gwinnett that will help fund the dental clinic to serve uninsured residents.

]]>latest,community,coopThu, 14 Dec 2017 08:34:02 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_goodsamaritanclinic2017.unclaimed.png?10000Jackson EMC Returns $9 Million in Margin Refundshttp://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-returns-9-million-in-margin-refunds/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-returns-9-million-in-margin-refunds/(JEFFERSON, GA. Dec. 1, 2017) – Approximately 211,000 Jackson EMC members will receive a check in the mail this month. Both members and former members will receive their share of a total $9 million in margin refunds in December.

“As owners of a not-for-profit cooperative, members are entitled to a portion of the funds left over each year after all of the cooperative’s expenses are paid, which we call margin refunds,” said Board Chairman Chuck Steele.

Margins are refunded for a combination of years so both longtime and newer members, as well as former members, benefit from belonging to an electric cooperative. This year, margin refunds will go to those who received electric service from Jackson EMC in 1990 and/or 2016. The sum of each member’s refund check is calculated according to the amount each member paid for electric service during those years.

After this December’s refund, Jackson EMC will have refunded $124.5 million in margin refunds to our member-owners since our cooperative was founded in 1938.

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, the largest electric cooperative in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation, is headquartered 50 miles northeast of Atlanta in Jefferson, Ga. The cooperative serves more than 225,000 meters on 14,000 miles of energized wire. For more information, visit jacksonemc.com.

]]>latest,coop,NewsFri, 01 Dec 2017 09:31:49 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_istock-508412190.jpg?10000In Touch: An Inside Look at Taking Member Care to the Next Levelhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/in-touch-an-inside-look-at-taking-member-care-to-the-next-level/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/in-touch-an-inside-look-at-taking-member-care-to-the-next-level/Like many of her colleagues at Jackson EMC, Brenda Medrano (shown on cover) was working long hours to help restore power for members after the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma.

As a customer service representative, Brenda was on the front lines answering calls from members to report downed power lines and power outages.

After an extended shift due to the storm, Brenda stopped by a store before heading home to rest. At the store, a woman noticed her Jackson EMC shirt and asked if she was one of the many employees helping to restore power.

“I told her, I sure do work at Jackson EMC,” Brenda said. “And if you’re on our power lines, I can assure you that we are working around the clock to get your power back on.”

The woman told Brenda, “Honey, I can see it on your tired face that you guys are doing your best. I’ve been without power for two days, but I know that you guys are working hard.”

Hurricane Irma became the second most damaging storm in Jackson EMC’s 79-year history. About 55 percent of the cooperative’s 224,500 members lost power at some point during the storm.

Customer service representatives, like Brenda, help members report power outages during storms. But, on typical days, they also help new members establish electric service, resolve billing issues, and direct members to resources that may serve them better, like budget billing.

“To be a good customer service representative, you need to have a strong back and a tender heart,” said Baxley Williams, a customer service representative.

Last year, Jackson EMC’s contact center answered more than 475,000 phone calls and 21,500 online requests from members. Customer service representatives receive extensive training to help them identify members’ needs, such as those who may benefit from automatic bill payments or pointing members to the cooperative’s My Energy Use portal (available at ebill.jacksonemc.com) to view energy usage.

“Many of our members want to know how they can save money on their energy bill,” said Brent Cochran, director of customer service. “Our customer service representatives receive lots of training about energy efficiency resources and green energy to help members interested in those services.”

Indeed, customer service representatives at Jackson EMC’s contact center oftentimes serve as a gateway for members learning more about the cooperative’s services.

That includes everything from how to read a residential electric meter to registering for security services through EMC Security.

“You have to know a little of everything to help members get what they need,” said Briana Minish, a contact center supervisor. “A member may be asking about one service, but during the course of the conversation, you identify and explain to them how another service may help them.”

But, there are times when members are reaching out to the contact center because of difficult situations. Customer service representatives are resources to help guide members to services that may best serve the members’ issues, even pointing them to local non-profit organizations for additional assistance.

“You hear it all,” Briana said. “We are like counselors. We hear about people going through a divorce, a bankruptcy, a loss of a loved one and really challenging family situations. We want to help and support them.”

Jackson EMC’s contact center also has more than 10 bilingual customer service representatives to better serve members.

In addition to live customer service representatives, Jackson EMC will launch a self-service portal in 2019 that will provide a turnkey solution for members to check energy usage, pay bills online, sign up for services, receive rebates and more.

]]>latest,coopTue, 14 Nov 2017 13:55:29 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_november17slides110717page3.jpeg?78818JEMC Releases Pike Crew Bound for Puerto Ricohttp://news.jacksonemc.com/jemc-releases-pike-crew-bound-for-puerto-rico/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/jemc-releases-pike-crew-bound-for-puerto-rico/(JEFFERSON, GA. Nov. 7, 2017) – As Puerto Rico continues to recover from a devastating hurricane that knocked out power to nearly the whole island, a Pike crew normally assigned to Jackson EMC is headed that way to help rebuild. Jackson EMC released the five-man crew, normally assigned to the Neese District in Madison County, for a 30-day period to help in the massive power restoration effort.

“As workers from across America help rebuild Puerto Rico’s electric grid, we were happy to release a crew to go and assist with that monumental effort,” said Tommy Parker, Jackson EMC Director of Operations Services. “As always, we evaluate any requests we receive for assistance, whether it’s one of our contractors or our own employees, and we’ll assist whenever we can.”

Millions of people have been without power in Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria made a direct hit on the island in late September, destroying much of the local generation, transmission and distribution systems. Today, roughly 60 percent of the island’s residents remain without power.

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, the largest electric cooperative in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation, is headquartered 50 miles northeast of Atlanta in Jefferson, Ga. The cooperative serves more than 225,000 meters on 14,000 miles of energized wire. For more information, visit jacksonemc.com.

]]>latest,coopTue, 07 Nov 2017 12:47:22 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_puertorico-2.jpg?32975Perspective: Thankfulhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/perspective-thankful-17/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/perspective-thankful-17/If your family is like mine, it’s been a whirlwind since summer ended. Back to school. Family gatherings. Packed calendars. Busy times.

But with Thanksgiving, there’s the blessing of slowing down – even for just a little while – to afford reflection on the things we value the most.

I’m thankful to call Jackson EMC home. I’m especially honored to work with so many dedicated colleagues who are committed to exceeding your expectations. I enjoy hearing from you when one of our employees goes the extra mile for you. As you’ll read in this issue of JEMCO News, we value providing skilled and caring people to help exceed your expectations.

A member contacted us recently to say they appreciated the extra time Barbino Garcia, a bilingual customer service representative, took to fully explain the billing and payment options available to them.

In another note I received, a member shared a story of their experience as a victim of identity fraud. The member was having to contact multiple businesses, including Jackson EMC, to resolve banking issues due to the fraud. The member expressed their appreciation for Brenda Moore in our contact center for going the extra mile and making the process easier for them.

For another member, customer service representative Wanda Welch was “fantastic, cool and calm” when the member called the contact center to discuss their account and create an online account. Wanda spent 25 minutes guiding the member to set up an online account profile.

When hiring, we truly seek people who have a heart to serve others. We look for people who are kind, empathetic, courteous and friendly. I’m grateful that we have been blessed to welcome such outstanding individuals to work at Jackson EMC.

And, I’m thankful for you. Our members. You’re not just a customer; you are a member-owner.

I’m thankful that you have recognized our commitment to caring for you, our communities and our employees. This year, J.D. Power and Associates ranked Jackson EMC one of the top five electric utility cooperatives in the nation for customer satisfaction. Again, thank you.

Enjoy this special time and look around for the blessings.

]]>latest,perspective,coopMon, 06 Nov 2017 14:06:00 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_20160630chipjakinsemp2012.jpeg?97917‘Thank a Lineman’ License Plate Now Available for Georgia Motoristshttp://news.jacksonemc.com/thank-a-lineman-license-plate-now-available-for-georgia-motorists/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/thank-a-lineman-license-plate-now-available-for-georgia-motorists/(JEFFERSON, GA. Oct. 19, 2017) – Georgians can show support and appreciation for Jackson EMC linemen and other utility line crews through the purchase of the state’s first “Thank a Lineman” vehicle license plate.

The specialty license plate honoring Georgia’s electric utility line workers, including those from Jackson EMC, was unveiled Wednesday.

Proceeds from the new specialty license plate will benefit the Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation, which provides assistance to burn patients and their families at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta.

The release of the new specialty license plate comes one month after Tropical Storm Irma, which caused extensive damage to utility poles in Georgia. Jackson EMC linemen and other utility line crews received widespread support from their communities as linemen worked to restore power after Irma.

Georgians interested in purchasing a “Thank A Lineman” license plate may visit www.sfbf.net/License-Plate when renewing their annual motor vehicle registration. For the first 1,000 plates, the one-time $25 specialty plate manufacturing fee will be waived by the Motor Vehicles Division of the Georgia Department of Revenue with a $25 minimum donation to the Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation.

In addition, by an act of the General Assembly and Gov. Nathan Deal, $10 of the Georgia Department of Revenue’s $35 annual specialty tag fee for “Thank a Lineman” license plates will be contributed to the Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation each year for as long as the motorist renews the specialty license plate.

Legislation designating the new specialty license plate was sponsored in the Georgia House of Representatives by Rep. Alan Powell (R-Hartwell) and carried in the Senate by Sen. Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega). Gov. Deal signed the legislation in May.

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, the largest electric cooperative in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation, is headquartered 50 miles northeast of Atlanta in Jefferson, Ga. The cooperative serves almost 225,000 meters on 14,000 miles of energized wire. For more information, visit jacksonemc.com.

]]>latest,coopThu, 19 Oct 2017 10:47:27 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_electricutilitylinemanlicenseplate06032016.jpg?10000Jackson EMC Linemen Rank Among World’s Best at International Rodeohttp://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-linemen-rank-among-worlds-best-at-international-rodeo/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-linemen-rank-among-worlds-best-at-international-rodeo/(JEFFERSON, GA. Oct. 15, 2017) Jackson EMC lineman Kaleb Chapman won three first place events at the 2017 International Lineman’s Rodeo, held Oct. 11-14 in Bonner Springs, Kansas. The event attracts the best linemen in the world to compete in events based on traditional linemen tasks and skills. A group of Jackson EMC linemen also earned third place honors in the overall journeymen linemen team category.

This year’s event was the largest lineman’s rodeo in history with 1,037 competitors participating. In total, 238 teams of journeymen linemen and 313 apprentices competed in a series of four events on Saturday, Oct. 14, looking for a possible 100 points per event and the fastest time.

The events for the international competition included: hurtman rescue, pole climb, cross arm change out, shunt splice, slack block making, insulator change as well as a written test for apprentices.

Chapman, an apprentice lineman from Gainesville, earned top honors at the 34th Annual International Lineman’s Rodeo with a first place finish in the hurtman rescue with a time of 43 seconds. He also finished first in the pole climb, 21 seconds; and insulator change event with a time of 5 minutes, 38 seconds. He received no point deductions. Chapman placed eighth overall in the apprentice division. Also competing for Jackson EMC in the Apprentice Division were: Josh Hallock, Lawrenceville; Kasey Odom, Jefferson; and Austin Yearwood, Lawrenceville.

In the Rural Electric Cooperative Division, Jeff Sutton, Jeremy Adams and Wayne Connell, all of Oakwood, finished in third place as a journeyman team with a combined time of 24 minutes, 34 seconds. Shannon Love, Clay Phillips and Justin Cash, all of Jefferson, finished in sixth place overall as a journeyman team with a combined time of 33 minutes, 14 seconds. Both teams earned the full 400 points.

Brett Hurst, of Oakwood, was part of a team that placed fifth in the overall senior division. Hurst participated on a team from Snapping Shoals EMC that included his brother, Victor Hurst.

The first lineman’s rodeo was held in September 1984, with 12 participating teams from Kansas and Missouri.

Competition events exhibit skill and safety:

Hurtman Rescue: Simulates the rescue of an injured worker stranded at the top of a utility pole.

Pole Climb: Linemen climb a pole with a raw egg in a bag and then descend with the egg in their mouth. Any crack in the shell is a deduction in points.

Cross Arm Change (team): Team removes an existing cross arm and hoists a new cross arm as a replacement.

Shunt Splice (team): Team makes a repair to a phase conductor around a simulated damaged area in the wire.

Slack Block Making (apprentice): Ropes and pulleys tied intricately together to use when repairing lines.

Insulator Change (apprentice): Linemen throw a gathered rope 30 feet in the air and thread it through lines of wire 18 inches apart, then climb a utility pole to change out two pin-top insulators.

]]>latest,News,community,coopSun, 15 Oct 2017 09:08:39 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_10142017linemansrodeoemp0595.jpeg?10000Need to Know: Winter Rates In Effecthttp://news.jacksonemc.com/need-to-know-winter-rates-in-effect-2017/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/need-to-know-winter-rates-in-effect-2017/Good news! Decreased demand for electricity during the winter months enables us to pass savings along to you by lowering our rates. Winter rates begin in October and continue through April.

]]>latest,coopWed, 11 Oct 2017 11:13:39 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_untitleddesign12.png?80816Annual Meeting: Driving & Parking Directionshttp://news.jacksonemc.com/annual-meeting-driving--parking-directions/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/annual-meeting-driving--parking-directions/For the best experience, we encourage members to park in our off-site parking areas. Shuttles run to two parking areas every 30 minutes and drop members off at the entrance to the meeting.

To park at Jackson County Comprehensive High School: 1668 Winder Highway, Jefferson

For 79 years, Jackson Electric Membership Corporation has provided safe, reliable and affordable electricity to you, our members, throughout Northeast Georgia. Over the decades, we’ve witnessed growth in this region, advancements in technology and evolution in our industry. Through it all, we’ve strived not only to meet but to exceed your expectations by providing courteous service, quality products and reliable electricity.

As an electric cooperative, Jackson EMC is owned by its members and depends on you to help keep your business operating. That means you must be informed of how your company is progressing, how it’s operated in the past, and what it needs to continue providing exceptional service in the future. With that in mind, here’s a look at our past year’s achievements and our plans for the year ahead.

Continued Growth

For the past four years, we have experienced a slow but steady growth, adding 3,000 to 3,700 meters to our system annually, including more than 3,500 new meters connected during the past 12 months. The past year’s new accounts included the addition of 3,163 residential meters and 409 commercial/industrial meters. Our new commercial/industrial accounts include the new FedEx ground distribution facility in Jackson County and a new freezer at Lanier Cold Storage in Hall County.

With these additional accounts, Jackson EMC now delivers power to more than 224,500 meters. Yet even with the consistent growth, our members continue to use about the same amount of electricity as they did four years ago—about 5 billion kilowatt hours each year.

It would stand to reason that, with the additional homes and businesses added to our lines, we would be called upon to produce more electricity. But just as our number of members has grown, so has their dedication to energy efficiency. It is evident that our members use the energy saving tips we share online and in our newsletter, keeping your personal and business power bills at a minimum while helping your cooperative keep costs stable for all of our members.

Preparing for the Future

Over the course of the past year, Jackson EMC has worked diligently to improve the distribution network that supplies your power. Along with updating two substations to increase reliability, we built a new substation in Hall County to meet the needs of new customers in the Chestnut Mountain/Braselton area.

Another way we’ve worked this year to provide more reliable service is by installing 48 more automated reclosers (viper switches). This new technology means that fewer of you will experience outages—and the time without electricity will be briefer for those whose power does go out after a storm.

As part of Green Power EMC, we now provide power from a 200 megawatt solar installation in South Georgia, supplying you with almost 17 million kilowatt-hours of solar energy. That’s enough to power 1,100 homes, and it allows you to support renewable energies.

Community Impact

Each year, Jackson EMC members contribute to the wellbeing of their neighbors by participating in Operation Round Up. This year, our members gave back $1,095,973 to the community through organizational and individual grants awarded by the Jackson EMC Foundation. These gifts help others obtain food, housing, clothing, medical services, counseling and a multitude of similar needs and services—and brings the total you’ve given since 2005 to $12,121,994.

To assist area teachers in providing the tools and technology they need to bring innovative learning projects and programs to their students this year, we funded $65,700 in Bright Ideas grants to schools across our service area.

Also, each year Jackson EMC sends four delegates on the Washington Youth Tour, an all-expenses paid week of leadership development, learning about U.S. history, and experiencing government in action at the nation’s capital.

Strategic Planning

Strategic planning led by our management and employees leads to the success of our cooperative, which results in benefits to you, our members.

Our strategic planning process utilizes your feedback along with input from our board and employees to identify areas where we need to improve. Strategic Initiative Teams consisting of our employees are assigned to research these areas for improvement, to study how other companies met similar challenges, and recommend strategies that Jackson EMC can take to become more efficient.

This year, one of our first strategic plans was put into place in January when we reorganized under Operations and Support groups. Along with the reorganization, our Strategic Initiative Teams also studied how we hire people and bring them along in the organization—and how we evaluate and improve our employees’ performance.

Much time and thought went into these studies with our teams ultimately making recommendations that, more than ever, will ensure we hire the most qualified people for the job—people who not only meet our criteria for employment but also demonstrate a passion for serving our members. These new strategies ensure that hiring and training good employees continues for years to come as we work to ensure a professional and pleasant workforce at Jackson EMC.

Improving Communications

Our latest strategic initiative involves upgrading our core information systems. Right now, we utilize systems from several vendors for our Outage Management, Customer Information and other systems. On their own, each system works well, but we’ve diagnosed a major dilemma: They don’t work well together.

Based on recommendations from our Strategic Planning, soon we will begin work on an 18-month project to move all of our core information systems to a new vendor, National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC). Our new information systems are designed to communicate with one another and work together. One of the new services NISC will make possible is a Smart Hub, a self-service page on our website that provides a one-stop way to check energy usage, pay your bill, sign up for services, get rebates and more.

When the NISC conversion is completed in early 2019, we will have accomplished yet another major project designed to provide exceptional service for you, our members.

The Bottom Line

Since 1938, Jackson EMC has strived to provide the most reliable electric power at the most affordable cost to our members. Today, Jackson EMC members on average pay 15 percent less for electricity than Georgia Power customers. That’s the equivalent of $300 a year, and it’s something we’re proud of.

On top of that, because Jackson EMC is a not-for-profit cooperative, our members receive a portion of the funds left over at the end of the year after all the company’s expenses are paid. Last December, eligible Jackson EMC members received $7.5 million in these margin refunds. This year, the board of directors is pleased to announce that in December we’ll mail $9 million in refunds to members who received service in 1990 and/or 2016. These margin refunds bring the total returned to members since we were founded 79 years ago to $124.5 million.

As we approach a new year at Jackson EMC, our goal is not only to do what you expect of us, but more.

]]>coopWed, 20 Sep 2017 00:00:00 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_20160630chipjakinsemp2012.jpeg?97917Program: Annual Meeting Activitieshttp://news.jacksonemc.com/program-annual-meeting-activities/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/program-annual-meeting-activities/Children will enjoy inflatables, candy art and clowns, while adults learn about the cooperative’s operations and plans for the future. Everyone in attendance will receive one meal ticket for a barbecue chicken supper and ice cream to be enjoyed onsite. Throughout the evening, The Triumphant Quartet will perform, and everyone has the chance to win a door prize!

A Health Fair offers free and low-cost services, and our Member Services area features products and services dedicated to energy efficiency, solar power and security. Make your reservations online today at www.jacksonemc.com/annual meeting or mail the enclosed reservation card by Friday, September 15. We look forward to seeing you at Annual Meeting on Thursday, September 28.

Health Fair Services and Information Booth

Several health agencies from across our service area will offer basic health testing for members. Healthcare professionals will be onsite to:

• Check blood pressure and pulse rate.

• Test glucose levels.

• Perform cholesterol screenings.

• Test vision and eye health.

• Measure height and weight for BMI.

• Conduct hearing screenings.

Members may also have Child ID kits made, along with a variety of other free services, evaluations and information.

Member Appreciation

Learn more about the benefits of being a Jackson EMC member in the Member Appreciation area:

• Spin the prize wheel and win with energy efficiency.

• Preview the latest Energy Star® appliances and learn about available rebates.

• Win free movie tickets and preview coming attractions.

• Learn the facts about Sun Power.

• Preview home automation available from EMC Security.

Kids Carnival

Learn more about the benefits of being a Jackson EMC member in the Member Appreciation area:

• Spin the prize wheel and win with energy efficiency.

• Preview the latest Energy Star® appliances and learn about available rebates.

• Win free movie tickets and preview coming attractions.

• Learn the facts about Sun Power.

• Preview home automation available from EMC Security.

Grand Prize and Other Gifts and Prizes

Each Jackson EMC account holder in attendance at Annual Meeting is eligible to receive one member appreciation gift and one raffle ticket for door prizes. Prize numbers will be announced throughout the evening. You must be present to win.

]]>coopTue, 05 Sep 2017 00:00:00 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_20160915annualmeetingcom55.jpeg?10000Innovative Electricityhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/innovative-electricity/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/innovative-electricity/As an industry leader, Jackson EMC has a reputation for rolling out innovative technological initiatives designed to help us better serve our members.

These often-complex and exciting new technologies don’t happen overnight. Often they are years in the making, involving ample research prior to launching the project and concentrated efforts to complete the venture.

While the work of our line crews and customer service representatives is out-front and visible, at any given time, other Jackson EMC employees are busy at work behind-the-scenes to develop and put into place new technologies to improve or speed up service. You’ll probably never see them at their desks or behind the controls, but you will certainly appreciate the fruits of their labor as new programs are implemented to improve reliability and save you money.

Here's an update on a few of the exciting new initiatives in progress at Jackson EMC:

Grid Enabled Electric Water Heaters

In July 2016, Jackson EMC partnered with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to test the Consumer Technology Association’s 2045 communication standard for smart grid enabled electric water heaters. These units are designed to cycle off when the power system reaches peak demand. We utilized the new AO Smith smart water heater, which puts customer comfort at a priority during load control events. These state-of-the-art water heaters feature a communication port that allows a two-way communication module to be used to operate with our load control system.

Nine Jackson EMC members have participated in a pilot program to test this new technology. Last summer, innovative electric water heaters were installed in their homes and tied in with our power grid’s load management system. We are currently studying data from the past year. We will report our findings to EPRI and consider how to best utilize this information in our operations.

“The new water heater has built-in intelligence to maintain the hot water temperature so that if someone’s taking a shower, even during times of high demand for electricity, they would never know their usage was reduced because the water remains heated,” says Amy Bryan, director of Residential Marketing. “This technology reduces impact on the consumer, and that means we may be able to get more people to participate in our load management program, which would result in savings for all of our members.”

Grid Automation Project Viper Switches

With a goal of reducing the amount of time members experience outages, Jackson EMC continues to install viper switches throughout the service area to enable speedier power restoration. These smart switches allow personnel to restore power almost immediately to up to half of those affected by outages.

The grid automation/viper switch technology has the capacity to decrease a power outage’s impact from affecting thousands of members to just hundreds, enabling Jackson EMC to substantially reduce the time members experience outages.

Installation of viper switches began in 2012 with 48 switches placed each year. Currently, more than 200 have been installed and activated with the goal of completing the project in 2020 with more than 350 vipers in place. With computer software currently being installed, parts of the project should be automated this fall with the entire service area fully automated in three years, according to Jonathan Weaver, Jackson EMC’s director of System Engineering.

“What makes this unique is our plan to roll it out system-wide,” says Weaver. “Most companies pick and choose particular areas where they apply this technology. We are working toward a rollout for all members to reduce their outage time.”

Solar Power

In partnership with Green Power EMC, Jackson EMC has participated in large-scale solar projects designed to benefit all members. Located in South Georgia, two large solar installations in Hazlehurst cover hundreds of acres and generate enough electricity to power more than 10,000 homes.

On a smaller scale but closer to home, the Cedar Creek Solar Project in Barrow County is the first substantial solar power project in our service territory. With completion expected by the end of summer, the Piedmont Equity Group project involves installation of 8,386 solar panels. With Green Power EMC purchasing the power generated, the 2-megawatt project north of Winder will energize about 275 homes.

This project is very reasonable from a cost standpoint and a good opportunity to invest in renewables, which many of our members are interested in,” says Weaver.

]]>innovation,coopMon, 07 Aug 2017 11:31:23 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_aug2017jemco080117cover.jpeg?15004Perspective: Forever Innovativehttp://news.jacksonemc.com/perspective-forever-innovative/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/perspective-forever-innovative/I never cease to be amazed by how what once was science fiction is now reality. There are examples all around us.

Take debit cards, for instance. Other than the occasional barter, paying with cash was how most people conducted business until just a few decades ago. Looking ahead to a civilization with fewer cash transactions, Edward Bellamy wrote “Looking Backward” way back in 1888. His novel introduced the idea of universal credit with citizens using a card to draw money from a central bank in order to purchase items while no paper money changed hands. The idea was outlandish then, ordinary now.

Another prediction came true in 2010 with the introduction of Apple’s iPad. In 1968, science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke wrote in “2001: A Space Odyssey” of a small “newspad” that could be plugged in to “conjure up the world’s major electronic papers.” The marvel Clarke imagined had “its own two-digit reference; when he punched that, the postage-stamp-size rectangle would expand until it neatly filled the screen and he could read it with comfort. When he had finished, he would flash back to the complete page and select a new subject for detailed examination.”

Wow! A full 40 years before the iPad, Clarke had practically drawn the blueprint.

In the electric industry, we’ve seen similar innovative ideas, big notions that seemed impossible when first scribbled on paper. Ever since Thomas Edison perfected the lightbulb and then developed the world’s first central station electric system, the electric industry has experienced continuous evolution. What was imagined as science fiction continues to become reality in this modern world.

At Jackson EMC, we embrace innovative electricity, the new ideas in our industry that lead to better use of resources and improved ways of conducting business. We are forever on the lookout for enhanced technologies that increase reliability while keeping costs down for our 220,000-plus members.

In this edition of JEMCO News, we explore a few of the innovative ideas we are currently exploring or introducing. (See pages 4-5.) For several years we’ve been installing viper switches throughout our system to radically decrease the number of Jackson EMC members affected by power outages. The technology behind this innovation might seem the stuff of science fiction, but what it produces is very real—fewer of you facing the discomfort of doing without power when storms or other events cause damage to the electric system.

Another innovation we’ve been reviewing involves new electric water heaters that work in tandem with our load management system. Last year, we recruited several Jackson EMC families to test this new technology, and now we are studying their findings.

Finally, we continue to explore ways to include solar power in our electricity generation portfolio, and now it’s easier than ever for our members to utilize this renewable energy. By investing in both large- and small-scale solar operations, we can offer our members easy access to affordable and sustainable solar power.

So next time you pull out your cell phone, think back to the first time you saw Captain Kirk use his communicator to tell Scotty to “beam me up.” And, do you remember William Shatner’s speech at the start of each episode of Star Trek? The closing line is “to boldly go where no man has gone before.”

Part of our vision at Jackson EMC is to be the best, forward-thinking, innovative energy supplier for our members. For all of us at Jackson EMC that means we want to be forever innovative. We’ll boldly go where no utility has gone before and exciting frontiers are ahead.

Official notice is hereby given that the 2017 meeting of the members of Jackson Electric Membership Corporation will be held at the headquarters in Jefferson, Ga., on Thursday, September 28, 2017. Registration will begin at approximately 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be called to order at approximately 7:20 p.m. by the chairperson. The purpose of the meeting is to:

1. Receive reports of officers, directors and committees;

2. Elect three directors; and

3. Handle all other business which may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

Prizes, entertainment, a box supper, important business and other special programs will be featured at this meeting. You are requested to be present.

]]>annual meeting,coopFri, 28 Jul 2017 10:34:18 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_20160915annualmeetingcom55.jpeg?10000Jackson EMC J.D. Power Rankings highest in historyhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-jd-power-rankings-highest-in-history-finishes-2017-in-fifth-place/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-jd-power-rankings-highest-in-history-finishes-2017-in-fifth-place/Jackson EMC placed fifth in the 2017 J.D. Power and Associates Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study’s Cooperative Segment. The satisfaction score is the highest ever achieved by the cooperative. This is the second year J.D. Power separated cooperatives from their respective geographic categories, meaning Jackson EMC was ranked with large cooperatives from across the nation.

The study, now in its 19th year, measures customer satisfaction with electric utility companies by examining six factors: power quality and reliability; price; billing and payment; corporate citizenship; communications; and customer service. The study is based on responses from 99,145 online interviews conducted from July 2016 through May 2017 among residential customers of the 138 largest electric utility brands across the United States, which collectively represent more than 98 million households.

The study found that overall satisfaction among residential customers of electric utilities is improving due to higher price satisfaction and increased outage information.

“The utility industry has begun to fully understand the importance of customer satisfaction over the past several years, and now many have dedicated leaders and teams focused on improving the customer experience,” said John Hazen, senior director of the energy practice at J.D. Power & Associates. “A challenge we continue to see, however, is that the pace of implementing satisfaction improvements at utilities can be slower than in other industries.”

The study finds that more utility customers (66% vs. 59% in 2016) are getting critical information during a power outage, such as the cause of the outage, number of customers affected and estimates on when power will be restored. Overall satisfaction among customers who receive outage information is much higher than among those who do not receive such information (716 vs. 683, respectively).

Some key findings of the study:

• Customers believe their utility infrastructure is being updated.

• Electronic bill-pay is increasing.

• Paperless communications on the rise.

• Website access is going mobile.

]]>news,coop,satisfactionFri, 14 Jul 2017 15:09:28 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_j-d-power-logo.jpg?24576Perspective: Planning For Low-Cost Electricityhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/perspective-planning-for-low-cost-electricity/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/perspective-planning-for-low-cost-electricity/Keeping Down Our Costs, And YoursThere was a time as a child when I thought “budget” was a bad word. I wasn’t sure exactly what the word meant, but I knew that most times it meant we didn’t have the money for something I thought I needed. Maybe you experienced it, too.

“Dad, can we go to Disney World this summer?”

“Six Flags, maybe; Disney World, no. You know we don’t have the budget for that.” “Mom, can I get a dirt bike like Timmy has?” “Nope, that’s not in our budget right now. But Christmas is just around the corner. Maybe you can ask Santa.”

Like I said, back then I didn’t even know what a budget was—just that it was not much fun and it often prevented me from having instant gratification.

Now, I realize that budget is not a bad word or a bad thing at all. I’m thankful that my parents were disciplined and stuck to a budget, and I’m glad they taught me how to wisely handle my finances. It’s been a helpful tool in raising a financially-secure family. My kids ask me for silly things sometimes, too. My two favorite words to them when I hear those requests are “save up.” They know I’m not buying everything they ask for and they better find a way to save their own money.

At Jackson EMC, we incorporate the same common sense values my mother and father did when it comes to keeping a budget and making good financial decisions. If we can’t afford it, we don’t buy it. If it would break the budget, we don’t do it.

Fortunately, because Jackson EMC has embraced good, common sense stewardship of members’ money through the years, we are in good financial standing. Not only are we able to meet our current needs but plan for the future as well. The same way you plan in advance for a family vacation or your child’s college education, we plan for projected needs at Jackson EMC.

Part of our planning is based on previous power demand. With that in mind, we strive to accurately forecast future supply needs and determine the best way to meet those needs. Sometimes this involves securing a long term power supply contract from the wholesale market, and other times this means using electricity we generate at our own facilities. This strategy lets us provide you with reliable electricity and ensures that we have enough electric power to meet growing demand. This long range outlook helps us continue to offer a consistently stable electricity supply at affordable prices that are less susceptible to market swings.

Another way we stick to our budget is by inviting you, our members, to help us keep costs down. Some of you do this by taking part in our load management program to help us decrease our peak demand on the hottest days of summer, when demand is at its highest point during the year. Participants in this program allow us to remotely turn off their air conditioners and water heaters for a few minutes each day to cut back on their electric use—and our system demand. They usually can’t tell the difference, but we see a huge difference: This program saves us almost $500,000 each year.

While sticking to our budget has always served us well, we also work to help you keep within your budget. Our website is packed with energy saving tools and ideas that, when implemented, can lead to cost savings on your power bill. Visit www.jacksonemc.com/savenow for a ton of tips.

And read about our new My Energy Use portal in this issue of JEMCO News. It’s an online tool that helps you track your personal electricity use. With that knowledge and by applying energy saving strategies, you can take more control over your energy use—and how it affects your budget.

]]>coop,perspective,savingFri, 14 Jul 2017 13:18:33 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_20160630chipjakinsemp2012.jpeg?97917Vehicles For Salehttp://news.jacksonemc.com/vehicles-for-sale-2017/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/vehicles-for-sale-2017/Jackson EMC has equipment for sale to members and employees. Sealed bids will be accepted at Jackson EMC headquarters in Jefferson until 3 p.m., August 11, 2017, after which time bids will no longer be accepted. Jackson EMC reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids.

These vehicles are being sold in “as is” condition with no written warranties. Vehicles may be viewed at the Jackson EMC office in Jefferson, located at 850 Commerce Highway, on Tuesday, August 1, and Thursday, August 3, between the hours of 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Come by at these dates and times ONLY to view the equipment.

The list below contains the types and approximate quantities of equipment and vehicles to be sold. All equipment and vehicles are retired from Jackson EMC’s fleet and are generally five years old or older with odometer readings above 100,000 miles. This list is subject to changes, additions and/or deletions. Standard bid sheets and a complete vehicle list will be provided in our main lobby on viewing dates.